william l



(No Model.)

W. L. WILLIAMS.

AUTOMATIC RETENTION VALVE FOR WATER OLOSETS.

No. 392,900. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

V f /z, M F 8. 2 V W zaqr/ep rib/U ,9,

N. PETERS. Fholn-Lilhbgnpher, wumngt -pto WILLIAM L. \VILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC RETENTION-VALVE FOR WATER CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.392,900, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed June 9, 1888. Serial No. 276,553. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. WILLrAMs, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Retention-Valves for Water-Glosets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, form-- ing part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for regulating the flow of water from elevated tanks and automatically closing the cut-off valves after a sufficient amount is expended; and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims Figure I is a vertical section and shows the usual cut-cit supply-valve that automatically regulates the replenishing of the tank, and it shows my combined overflow-pipe and cut-off valve on its closed port,with the float and automatic trip that regulates the flow after the elevation of said cut-off, with the tank replenished to its high-water mark. Fig. II is a detail showing the cut-off valve elevated and dogged in position by the pawl. Fig. III is an enlarged detail, part in section, and shows the cut-off valve down after the second trip of the pawl. It also shows the skeleton boxing around the valve and its foot-flange that engages with the elastic packing around its base on the floor of the tank to prevent leakage. Fig. IV is a like view and shows the cut-off valve elevated and the trip-pawl seated in the first notch or step of the foot-disk that the trigger-stem of the float commands preparatory to being released by the lowering of the float and consequent tripping of said pawl as the water recedes. Fig. V is a like view and shows the relative posit-ion of the parts when the pawl has been once sprung and, having been thus released from its first seat or step,has fallen into engagement with the second step. The cut-off, which has again been elevated, this time to a lower stage, is again held by the pawl. It also shows the pawl about to be again sprung by the descent of the float as the water exhausts in the tank. Fig.VIis ahorizontal section taken on line VI VI, Fig. III, and shows the overflow-pipe of the cut-off valve and the spider-arm bracket from which hangs the pendent rod shown in Figs. IV and V,which forms the base-guide of the cut-off valve. Fig. VII is a horizontal section taken on line VII VII, Fig. III, and shows the conical flange-base of the cut-off valve seated on its elastic cushion; and Fig. VIII is a horizontal section taken on line VIII VIII, Fig.V, and shows the valve-seat and its elastic packmg.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the views,l represents a tank in which my re tention-valve devices are located.

2 is one of the usual varieties of automatic supply-valves that regulate the tank-supply and replenish the same; but, not being part of the subject-matter of this invention, its constituent parts need not be here described.

3 represents the combined overflow-pipe and cut-01f valve, which is surmounted by a bail, 4., that is secured to the collar 5, that surrounds the overflow-orifice at the top of the pipe. A link or hook, 6, whose lower end engages with said bail, is secured by the pivot-bolt 7 with the forward end of the lever 8, which fulcrums by the pivot-bolt 9 on the vertical bracket-arm 10, that may be secured to the tank or to any suitable adjacent object. The other end of said lever is provided with a perforation, 11, for the attachment of the pull-chain l2,which, when drawn by means of said lever, elevates the cut-off valve to open the flow of Water.

13 represents the enlarged conical foot-flange of the cut-off valve, which may be either screwed or brazed or otherwise secured to the long upper section of the combined overflowpipe and cut-off valve.

14. represents the valve-seat, whose peripheral screw-disk 15 engages in the box-screw 16 within the foot-flange 17 of the skeleton boxing 18, whose elevated collar-disk 19 forms a guideseat for the combined overflow-pipe and cutoff valve. The enlarged conical foot-flange 13 of said valve being larger in diameter than the orifice in the collar-disk 19, it-limits the ascent of the valve when operated by the pull-chain to prevent an undue elevation. An elastic ring-cushion, 20, of rubber or other suitable packing, is bedded on the valve-seat 14 and insures a water-tight seat for the valve, and is held to its seat by the foot-flange 17 of the boxing, which screws onto the screw-disk 15 of said valve-seat.

21 represents a screw-threaded tube, which is integral with and hangs pendent from the hollow disk 14, that forms the valve-seat, and the inner surface of said tube is flush with the orifice 22 in said valve-seat, so as to allow free vent from the port when open. The said tube is seated in the orifice 23 in, the floor 24 of the tank, around which orifice on said floor an elastic ring cushion, 25, is seated, against which the collar-disk that carries the valveseat presses, when tightened by the nut below, to insure a watertight connection with the floor.

The pendent tube 21 has a screw-th read. run around its periphery,and ascre\v-nut, 26, that engages on said screw, is turned up until it is seated against the under side of the tank'floor and firmly holds the valve-seat and its surmounting skeleton boxing that holds the cut off valve and other devices in this invention, yet to be described.

The screw-tube 21 is of sufficient length to provide means for attachment of the usual screw-coupling to the discharge-pipe that connects with the bowl to carry down the water to said bowl. I

27 represents a spider-bracket that is firmly secured within the conical flange of the cut-off valve, and from which descends a pendent rod, 28, which is seated below in the orifice 29 in the cross-bar 30, that spans the orifice 22 of the valve-seat. The base of the cut-off valve is thus guided in its ascent and descent, and the surmounting tube of said valve is at the same time held in its vertical position in the orifice of the collar-disk of the skeleton frame in which it is seated by the forward end of the lever from which its bail hangs suspended.

31 represents a bracketdug that is firmly secured to the skeleton boxing 2l,within which the cut off valve and overflowpipe work. The said bracketing has bifurcated arms 32, which are perforated to form bearings 33, in which the pivot-pin 3-1 works,which pivot-pin is also seated in the perforation 35 of the circular foot-disk 36 of the trigger-stem 37,which stem carries the float 38. The said circular disk at the foot of the trigger-stem of the float is preferably secured to said stem by a socket lug or ferrule, 39, integral with said disk, from the periphery of which it projects, and in the socket of which lug the stem of the float is seated and secured. The aforesaid circular foot-disk of the triggerstem of the float has thus pivotal bearings within the bifurcated arms of the bracket-lug 31, so that as the water rises and falls in the tank, the float being carried with it in accordance with its changing surface-level, it effects the automatic functions explained below. The disk 36 is provided with notches or steps 40 in its periphery, adjacent to and at each side of the lug 39.

The bifurcated arms 41 of the pawl 42 embrace the lug 43, which is secured to the pe riphery of the combined overflow-pipe and cutoff and is pivotally connected thereto by the pin 44-, that engages in the perforations 4.5 through both said bifurcated arms of the pawl and said lug. The lug is attached outside of said pipe immediately above the vertical spline 46, that is secured to and projects from the pipe, and which spline is seated in the rectangular slot 47, in which it works vertically when the cut-off valve is operated, and thus prevents the adverse rotation of the valve and 0f the said pipe that surmounts it. The lug 43 has an upwardly projecting horn, 18, which limits the upward ascent of the pawl, and thus prevents its elevation past its center-bearing, in which position it would rest against the pipe and not return back to its work.

The pawl 42 is providedv with side flanges, 19, that embrace the sides of the disk 36, on which it operates, -so as to keep the parts in conjunction together. The lower end of the pawl terminates in a chisel-shaped bevel edge, 50, that engages relativelyin either one of the notches 10 in the foot-disk of the float-stem.

In operation,when the cut-off valve has been elevated by the action of the pull-chain 12, (see Figs. II and IV,) the bevel-edge of the pawl rests in the first of the notches 40 in the periphery of the foot disk of the trigger-stem of the float to dog or retain the cut-off valve in its elevated position after it has been raised until the flow of water through its open port has sufficiently lowered the surface in the tank for the float to be lowered, as shown in dotted lines, (see Fig. 1,) when its stem,which acts as a trigger, turns the disk sufficiently to trip the pawl from its seat in the first notch or step it occupies, and, inconsequence, the cut-off valve immediately drops to its seat and the port is closed. Now,should there be afurther flow of water required before the then open port of the supply-valve 2 has replenished the tank, (which is frequently the case',) then when the cut-off is again elevated by the pull-chain the beveledge of the pawl engages in the second notch and again dogs the valve in its elevated position, so as to keep open port until, the water having sufficiently lowered in the tank, the float through its triggerstem again trips the pawl, the cut-off valve again drops to its seat, and the port is again closed. (See Fig. IIl.) y

It will be seen that my retention attachment to the cut-off valve assures an open port after the elevation of the valve,which is automaticallydogged by the pawl until a sufficient discharge of water has been furnished, and ob viates the tedious necessity of retention of the pull-chain to enforce the retention in elevation of the cut-off until said object is effected; also, when sufiicient water has been furnished through the open port, then the cut-off is automatically tripped and a waste of water is prevented without the necessity of awaiting the termination of the flushing. Again, as before stated in the description, should a second supply be needed before the replenishment of the IIO tank, a second automatic trip is effected on the pawl and the residue of the water in the tank is utilized for that purpose.

It will'be seen (see Figs. III, IV, and V) that the foot-disk of the trigger-stem of the float has reserve notches on its under side, numbered 40, (the same as those above,) which, when said upper notches become worn, then by turning the disk are brought into use for thelocking-seat of the dog-pawl. I have shown and described two only of these notches or steps, in each case relatively above and below the triggerstem; but I do not confine myself to that number, for, especially if said notches are reduced in size, there may be a larger number of them used, which will especially adapt the device for use in larger tanks, inwhich it is required to divide up the volume of water in the tank into more than two apportionments.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the tank, the tube 3, having a valve, and a housing for said valve, of a ratchet, a float for operating said ratchet, and a pawl pivoted to said tube and resting normally upon said ratchet, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the tank, the pipe 3, having avalve, and aguide for said pipe, of a fixed circular ratchet, a float connected to said ratchet for revolving it, and a pawl pivoted to said pipe and resting normally upon said ratchet, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the tank, the pipe 3, having the valve thereon, and the box 18, of a bracket on said box, a circular ratchet pivoted to said bracket, a float having a stem secured to said ratchet for turning it, and a pawl pivoted to said tube and resting upon said ratchet, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the tank, the pipe 3, having the valve thereon, and the box 18, of a bifurcated bracket on said box, a circular ratchet journaled in said bracket, a float, a stem connecting said float to said ratchet, and a pawl pivoted to said pipe resting upon said ratchet and having the side flanges, 49, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with the tank, the pipe 3, having a valve thereon, and the box 18, having a bracket thereon, of a circular ratchet mounted in said bracket, a float connected to said ratchet, a pawl pivoted to said pipe and resting upon said ratchet, and the horn or stop 48 on said pawl, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM L. WILLIAMS.

In presence of BENJN. A. KNIGHT, J os. WAHLE. 

